At first blush, the art of jewelry making and the design of architecture might not seem to have much in common. But for two Tyler faculty -- Doug Bucci, Assistant Professor and Program Head of Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, and Andrew John Wit, Associate Professor of Architecture and Graduate Curricular Head -- the synergies are readily apparent.

In the Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s installation for the 2023 Design Philadelphia, the colleagues were inspired by the merging of scales, tools, and processes utilized within their disciplines.

“The installation utilizes these processes to rethink the form making and production processes,” said Wit. “Even though architecture and jewelry are both disciplines centered around making, the processes utilized for this exhibition were unique to how we work as individuals within our respective fields.”

Entitled “Periscope,” the installation highlights interdisciplinary research being conducted at Tyler through materiality, contrast, and the framing of artifacts and the environment. It occupies a 10’ x 20’ x 10’ space and consists of nine periscopes that measure roughly 24” x 14” x 12”. Each periscope is affixed to a chrome-steel lighting boom that orients it three-dimensionally in space. The periscopes are constructed from unique prefabricated laser-cut and mechanically bent aluminum panels, and their interiors are bathed in vivid graffiti paint.

“The installation can easily be adapted, as each periscope is a contained system,” said Wit, adding that he and Bucci wanted to create an interactive experience that visitors could engage with in unexpected ways. “Each module can change its location, height, rotation, and relationship to the other periscopes. Because of this flexibility and materiality, the installation can be displayed both inside and outside.”

“We hope the viewers will enjoy the installation and understand that the barriers between maker disciplines are easily removed, allowing for an expanded toolset within individual fields,” said Wit.

On October 10, Wit and Bucci will discuss their processes for constructing Periscope, as well as past interdisciplinary projects carried out by Tyler faculty. The presentation, Range: Four Years of Tyler Collaborative Research at Design Philadelphia, will be held at the Center for Architecture and Design, 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia.